THEATER REVIEW:

Before they were superseded by TV shows and video games, comic books were a part of virtually every kid’s childhood, transporting them to fantastic worlds where evil villains plotted and stalwart superheroes always arrived just in time to save the day.

We still have Superman and Batman, of course, in their latest cinematic incarnations, but the likes of Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, the Flash and the Atom are probably gone forever, along with their super powers.

But the genre has one more climactic scene to play, and it’s currently on view at the Newport Theater Arts Center.

There, the theater’s summer youth musical, “Adventures of a Comic Book Artist,” offers a nostalgic tribute to those paragons of pulp fiction, finely drawn (book and lyrics) by Pat Lydersen with music by Wendy Wolff.

It’s predominantly a children’s show, with just a few adults in the cast of 21 involved in key assignments.

Director Kyle Myers, himself a grade school teacher, has a way with youngsters, and it shows in this terrifically entertaining production. Kids as young as 5 perform like seasoned troupers under the tutelage of Myers, choreographer Allison Horner and musical director Joyce Maxson.

Taking center stage as the would-be artist who’s stuck sweeping up at a comic book publishing office is Chris Diehl, who turns in an outstanding performance, both dramatically and vocally. The show pretty much rides on his character’s shoulders, and Diehl is the real deal.

As his boss is the diminutive 11-year-old Asher Axe, a comic-book mogul who struts with surprising authority in the role. Ally Maclean also impresses as his pretty but vacuous assistant, Viola, who enlists in Diehl’s crusade to combat the newly minted villain, Dr. Shock Clock (an enthusiastically evil Matt Timsit), who stops time long enough to commit his larcenous deeds.

To assist him in his quixotic quest, Diehl draws four other superheroes — the narcissistic Star Guy (Chase Del Rey), the lightning-quick Triple Time (Matthew Yee), the fragrant Blossom (Caleigh Rae Wells) and, overpowering everyone, the combative Wombat Woman (Cathy Petz).

Petz, a near-ringer for Rosie O’Donnell, easily steals her portions of the show by her sheer dominance.

Scott Timsit is engaging as the play’s narrator, while the miniature Minutas (Kat Guzzetta, Natalie Stamas, Thalie Timsit and Rebecca Yee) are cutesy partners in crime. Julie Ruck is particularly engaging as the lone female comic book artist.

This is one “family show” that will be thoroughly enjoyed by the entire family — from the old folks who remember the Justice Society of America comics of the 1940s, to the youngest fans of the latest electronic craze.